[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3026 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3026

 To provide for the adoption of the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin 
    Islands as the constitution of the United States Virgin Islands.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 28, 2023

 Ms. Plaskett introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide for the adoption of the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin 
    Islands as the constitution of the United States Virgin Islands.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTION FOR THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN 
              ISLANDS.

    (a) In General.--The Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands (48 
U.S.C. 1541 et seq.) (as amended through January 1, 2023)--
            (1) is deemed to satisfy the requirements of Public Law 94-
        584 (90 Stat. 2899) with respect to a constitution for the 
        local self-government of the people of the United States Virgin 
        Islands; and
            (2) as of the date of the enactment of this Act, is adopted 
        as the constitution of the United States Virgin Islands.
    (b) Amendments to the Constitution.--
            (1) Proposed amendments.--
                    (A) In general.--The Legislature of the Virgin 
                Islands (referred to in this subsection as the 
                ``Legislature'') may propose amendments to the 
                constitution of the United States Virgin Islands 
                (referred to in this subsection as the 
                ``constitution'') by a resolution approved by not less 
                than two-thirds of all of the members of the 
                Legislature.
                    (B) Presentation to voters.--All proposed 
                amendments approved by the Legislature under 
                subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) shall be submitted to the qualified 
                        voters of the United States Virgin Islands 
                        (referred to in this subsection as ``qualified 
                        voters'') in a referendum; and
                            (ii) published at least 3 months before the 
                        date of such referendum.
                    (C) Referendum concurrent with general election.--
                If the resolution is approved by not less than three-
                fourths of all of the members of the Legislature, the 
                Legislature may provide that the referendum be held at 
                the same time as the next general election.
                    (D) Amendment requirements.--Each proposed 
                amendment approved by the Legislature under 
                subparagraph (A) shall--
                            (i) be voted on separately;
                            (ii) specify the terms under which it shall 
                        take effect; and
                            (iii) become a part of the constitution if 
                        it is ratified by a majority of the qualified 
                        voters voting thereon.
                    (E) Maximum number.--Not more than 3 proposed 
                constitutional amendments may be submitted at the same 
                referendum.
            (2) Constitutional convention; revisions.--
                    (A) Question to voters.--The Legislature, by a 
                resolution approved by two-thirds of all of the members 
                of the Legislature, may submit to the qualified voters 
                at a referendum, held at the same time as a general 
                election, the question of whether a constitutional 
                convention shall be called to revise the constitution.
                    (B) Effect of vote in favor of revision.--If a 
                majority of the qualified voters voting on this 
                question vote in favor of the revision, it shall be 
                made by a constitutional convention elected in the 
                manner provided by law.
                    (C) Special referendum on revisions.--Each revision 
                of the constitution shall be submitted to the qualified 
                voters at a special referendum for ratification or 
                rejection by a majority of the votes cast at the 
                referendum.
            (3) Limitations.--No amendment to the constitution shall--
                    (A) alter the republican form of government 
                established by it; or
                    (B) abolish any right in the bill of rights.
    (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed 
to create a cause of action under Federal law with respect to any claim 
that the Legislature of the Virgin Islands is in violation of the 
Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands (48 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.).
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